Car-door operating and locking mechanism.



J. F. COMEE. CAR DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11. 1915. V

Patented bept. 0,1916.

suensnzr 1. i

J. F. COMEE. CAR DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM.

APFLICAHON HLED NOV. 17. 1915. r i

' PatentedSept. a, 191i).

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.I. F. COMEE. CAR DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11. ms.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

3 SHEETHHEET 3.

vHa

ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH F. COMEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CAMEL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application filed November 17, 1915. Serial No. 61,912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. CoMEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (flacDoor Operating and Locking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to car doors and has particular reference to improvements in car door operating and locking devices.

The object of my invention is to provide a combined door operating and locking device or mechanism, which shall consist of but. few parts, which shall be strong and durable and low in cost, and by means of which the operator can easily apply great force either to open or close the car door and without risk of destroying or injuring either the door or the car A further object of my invention is to provide a car door operating device by means of which the door can be positively and quickly closed or partly opened and securely locked in either of said positions and which shall be free from any possibility of destructive wear when in locked position.

My invention resides in a mechanism for opening, closing and looking a sliding car door, which comprises a hasp and an operating lever cooperatively arranged on the door and the car for opening and closing the door and the hasp being adapted for engagement with a locking! staple on the opposite member to positively hold the door closed or partly open.

My invention also consist in a toothed rack-like hasp and a pinion mounted upon the door and the car and adapted for operative COiiPBl'iltlOfl to open and close the door, the pinion forming part of a lever by means of which great force can be applied to the door and a fixed staple arranged adjacent to the pinion, which serves the double purpose of a guide for the hasp when in mesh with the pinion and for engagement with the hasp to hold the stoor stationary.

My invention also consists in a hasp for freight car doors which serves the double purpose of a door lock and door operator.

My invention also consists in a rack-like hasp pivotally mounted at one end on the car door, a pinion on an adjacent part of the (-a r with which the hasp can be brought into engagement means for rotating the pinion to open or close the door, a fixed staple for engagement with the hasp to hold the door in either of. two positions, said staple being adapted to guide the rack while engaged with the pinion and'means for locking the g rack in pinion engaging or staple engaging position.

My invention also consists in the several features of construction and the combinations, arrangements and relations. of parts 35 My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part ,of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a freight car equipped with a door operating mechanism embodying my invention and showing the door locked in closed position; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the door closed and g the mechanism in door operating relation; Fig. 3 is a similar fragmentary view showing the door partly open and the mechanism in door operating relation; Fig. --'1-- is a similar fragmentary view showing the 3'5 door partly open and locked in such osition; Fig. -5- is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6- is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 2-; and Fig.' -7 is a perspoC-' 9'0 tive view of the toothed hasp.

The rough usage to which freight cars and their doors are subjected and the fact that they are exposed, in use, to allkinds of weather conditions results in a warping and twisting of the various car elements, particularly in \vooden'cars, so that although the sliding doors on freight cars usuall opcrate easily when the car is first built; and

put into service they quickly reach that'com 10o dition in which they-bind in their ways and the door post may and often does interfere with the easy opening and closing of' the door, consequently it is difficult to move the door back and forth'. This difficulty in opcrating the door results in the rapid destrufition of car doors and cars, for, when an dar reaches its destination if the door can-' not be easily opened, the one who desires to open' it frequently uses forcible methods,

such as wedges and hammers and such like tools, destroying and breaking up the door and the adjacent parts of the car, for of course, the goods within the car must be delivered regardless of the condition of the car. In view of this situation many mechanisms have been devised for the application of force to the car door to open and close it with ut destructive effects, but these mechanisms, so far as I am aware, are quite compucated comprising many parts some of which in the nature of things, cannot be made substantial enough to stand the severe strains to which they are subjected in use. To overcome these difficulties I have devised the simple door operating and locking mechanism illustrated in the said drawings, and which primarily comprises a hasp which is pivotally mounted. at one end on the car door and which serves the purpose of an operating rack, and a toothed lever pivotally mounted on the door post adjacent to the door opening and adapted to engage the rack. and by means of which relatively great force can be easily applied to the door, in the direction of its movement and without any danger of destroyin; the door or the adjacent parts of the car. Furthermore these operating parts are permanently secured upon the car members ready for instant cooperation when it is desired to open, close or lock the door. As a further feature I make use of my operating hasp with which to lock the door both in its closed position and in a partly open position, in which latter position it is desired to hold the door locked so that the car can be ventilated.

In said drawings A represents a freight car, and B one of the sliding doors thereof, which is adapted to slide back and forth in front of the door opening C. The door is mounted at its upper end upon a rail 1) by means of door sheaves E, and the lower end of the door is provided with a longitudinal ledge or flange F which is received behind a guide plate G. At the forward end of the door opening C is a door post (1 having an outer post or jamb H against which the forward edge of the door is adapted to abut when the door is closed. The door overlaps the adjacent part of the post G, and as cars are usually constructed, the inner face of the door and the outer face of the post (1 lie very closely together so that the contents of the car cannot escape at this point, and coir sequently, if the post G or the forward edge of the door itself warps or becomes twisted to any appreciable extent, these two parts interfere with each other and create a great deal of friction. It is thefriction or interference at this particular point that my operating device is adapted to overcome and for which I have 'particularly devised my door operating device. Furthermore, in the modern construction of freight cars the forward edge of the door is usually held inwardly against the door post G by means of a wedging surface which projects over the forward edge of the door and holds the door from springing outwardly when in its closed position, which springing of the door might be due either to the warped condition of the door itself or to the pressure of the contents of the car. Consequently, unless the forward edge of the door and the adja cent surface of the post freely pass each other the interference which has been ex plained will exist.

I provide a hasp 2 pivot-ally mounted at one of its ends 3 on the face pf the forward part of the door so that it can swing freely, and the hasp is adapted to be swung upwardly to a substantially horizontal position to project beyond the forward edge of the door for cooperation with the locking and operating devices which are mounted upon the post H. I provide the hasp, on its lower edge, with a series of teeth 4 which constitute a rack, by means of which I am enabled to apply force either to open or close the door.

Upon the post H I mount a lever 5 on a horizontal rigid pivot 6, I the lever being adapted to project close to and swing parallel with the adjacent face of the car. I provide the pivoted end of the lever with a segmental toothed pinion 7, the teeth of which are adapted to engage with the teeth on the hasp 2 when it is desired to open or close the door, and the lever and pinion are preferably integral with each other so that this operating member is exceedingly strong. Above the pinion and spaced therefrom I provide a. rigid projection 8 which projects outwardly from the post II and constitutes a. locking staple. This staple also forms a guide for the hasp 2 when the teeth thereof are in mesh with the pinion and the hasp is being used as arack, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 3- I have illustrated the relative positions of the hasp and lever which these parts occupy at the time that the door is moved to its partly open position or when the hasp and iever are arranged to begin the closing of the door. I have also provided a locking member 9 which is mounted upon the door post H to slide up and down, and is provided at its lower end with a projection 10 adapted to pass through a perforation 11 in the staple 8 and is adapted to overlie or project in front of the hasp 2 when the same is in cooperative relation with the pinion 7. As clearly showmjn the several figures, this locking member-ff; is slidably mounted upon av fixed pin 12 and is provided with an elongated slot 13 to permit it to be moved entirely out of contact with the projection 8 for the purpose of permitting the movement ot' the iiasp into anil out of locking position.

As shown in tho (lrawinn's l provnlc iiir hasp with an opening adapted to rcc i liltf staple anil holil tho iioor loclmi ii closc l position, a host mi: in Fig 'lhc looking nninhvr (F spin-oil ()tfln tron; the t vt' ti i ii anti pcrniit the phi-'mmcni iii the? m staplw S lrillilitlt thc irivi wt' in Fig,

For the par i-osi: of scaling the door lockerl position l proxi the outrr taoc oi th h pivotvil r-ii l n-' P latio t-w lafl tiidrt locking;

in n;

anil. fn h i 10 of tin- :o- {T tion 15 with wp n wing opera r 1'? respectively. to rerrii'o a untaiiiv sczi member 18 as shown it Fig. a 1-1 lint sealing mcnilior illustrated s w i enils 0t Whit'il are inn" ;-:ethrr an i firmly hound within a lcail swat. that it lr-l the commonly used wire sral for t'rcight cars.

For the purpose of -3(i1lll i mounting the liasp upon tht car than I proriilr I trcl strap 19 inonnti-il on tho Fat-c of the loor am! having a prr'l oratinn "i -ziiiar nt to its forward lhi and l pria'iilc a staph niumiwr 21 adaptvil to he lioltwl HlV-Ii tw strap l!) and pruviilwl at its torwaril liltl with :1 staple hook 22 tltlflptt'tl to rci'ciw [he hasp. tho hasp being; provided with an oprn ng 523 tor mounting upon thc staple hook 22. And to prevent the removal of the staplifrom tilt shawl strap 1 provide the inner cnil of the staple with a liookcil Ulltl 24 adapted to profcvt han sath the strap and ll()l(l the war .3 rn l of the inmnlicr ll against rhino it til 23 in the end of tho hasp i o? with sim. an l thr corners are i'tfilii-"ii'u as shown in Fig. l so that thc hasp ran trcci swing out from the war, as llltliw catvil, iL dotted lines. to freely pass the IH'fljC-itiifli S as wcil as swing up itlltl down for placement in its i-oi'ipcrtiw relation with the pinion and upon the lorli ing stapler And obviously it is free to hang straight down at times-whim it not in roiijwration with thc pinion or with the staple 8, consequently when the hasp is tire from the pinion 7 and the locking staple 9, it hangs freely down within the area of thc door and (loos not obstruct the loor opening.

In Fig. *l-- I have shown tho hasp in its locking position, the door lining in lnsoil position and the locking momlicr 9 in posi tion to llUltl the hasp upon the staple 8.

In Fig. 2- I have shown the hasp in its operative relation to the pinion, tlw look ing member 9 having been moved upwardly to pvri'iit rm ml of the hasp from the :wi iitli Elbf lNOIl dropped again to n proper working relation t sinh times the levor 5 is i 'it so that the pinion god with tho teeth it whorl thix: lover is swung tin: hasp to thc righta vxtreme mown'itnt of tin il or to Ll tho iloor has hcnn thin oponcil. and it is iiiJ-il that the lion: loclcoz! in :-H"li part y ition tho :in

tin-i 12w ha iamino iron; its operarelat n ii: iiihi: mini is p m .hc staph 1 i i ic ng HHHi arr i? is i i n lig.

prmiue inn has with a v iul projwtion i? z iili -li to thr prop 'tioii l7. an=l lilwni wsimilar to tho proicction 2t mlaptcil to ci;-- opcratr with thu lowcr cnil ill of the locking for smiling tlic car a'hvn thr ti-iia' l min shown thc floor partly jwr tin limp locking; tln iloor in such partly uponpositionv .\s i-lvarly illustratcil in i ii A th projm i' l5 ainl. Fifi on tho hasp ran mow i'r-arly' Ea-iwath tin: lowrr (llkl of the projmi- (ion 1'') on tho lo king mcuilior i) as tlic liasp is IllUVitl hack anti forth by means oi tho pinion T and lover 5. The llasp constitutcs a combined tloor locking and operating menilwr aiuiptml in one position to cooperate with tho o jwmting lava-r for opcning and closing the door. and in ancthcr position to cooperate with the final projcction for locking the door. and at othcr times tree to hang in such relation to the iloor that it cannot olisti'urt thc door opcnii'ig.

I prsi t'crahlv torn tho pivot hearing (3, {p011 whirli the hw r I) is niorinttwl anil tllt locking! staple 1*. iutogjrallv with a nictallic door stop J which is rigidly holtcil to. Illlii in fa t, forms a section of the (lUUt post or janili il. Th stop is proviilcl with flangcs K adapting it to l)t' socurrrl in position liy bolts or rivcts L which pass through the mljai-cnt parts of the wooden (lOOl jainh H and the door post (lr and also by interior or hidih-u liolt's or rivets M \Vlllf'll pass through hiililcn llangvs N,-an(i hencc the stop is huh] rigiilly tllltl pcrunincntly in position. To holil thc (loor firmly in against the overlapping part. of the post (i, when in ClOSWl positi n. l proviile a laterally extending projection l forming part of the stop .l and ovcrlapping the door space, the inner surfacc of this projection is inclined relatively to the door and is adapted to force the forward edge of the door inwardly against the outer surface of the post G. 'Io brace the stop J against the pressure which is applied to the projection I when the door is closed I provide a rearwardly extending projection R on the stop J adapted to rest upon the adjacent surface of the car and brace the stop .I against the tipping pressure applied to the projection P.

A further advantageous feature of my inention resides in the fact that the pinion is only in mesh with the hasp during the operation of opening and closing the door, and at all other times hangs free. on its pi\ot. consequently there is no undue wear up n the teeth of the pinion or the hasp which might result from the constant vibration of these parts were they in mesh all the time the door is closed.

A further important feature of my inven; tion is that the hasp is free to be entered sidewise into engagement with the pinion in any relation relatively thereto: in other words it is not necessary to guide the hasp into rngagen'ient with the pinion as the door is being closed. lsually the door in closing. slides very easily until its forward edge strikes the overlapping door post. then the hasp is swung up from its free vertical hanging position. it is also swung out to pass the operating lever and is then entered sidewise into engagement with the teeth of the pinion and beneath the locking staple. In this operation it is very easy to hold the operating lever at such an angle that the rack and pinion will be properly engaged to permit a complete closing of the door without the necessity of freeing the rack from the pinion and reengaging them in a. different relation or, on the other hand, it is very convenient to reengage the lever with the pinion in such relation that a maximum pull can be most easily applied to the lever. For instance it might occur that it would be best to rei image the pinion with the hasp several times during the door-moving operation so as to keep the l ver as nearly horizontal as possible. lint should such reengagcment be, necessary or desirable it can be very quickly and easily accomplished as the hasp is free to be swung out and in for such purpose. Ilaving engaged the rack with the pinion the locking member may be, inserted through the locking staple and its lower end holds the hasp from working sidewise out of engagement with the pinion during the door closing or moving operation. The door having been forced tightly against the door post or jamb the locking member is withdrawn. and the hasp is swung sidewise out of engagement with the pinion and is entered upon the locking staple then the lower end of the locking member is inserted through the locking staple to hold the hasp on the latter and thereafter the locking member can readily be sealed against Withdrawal by the insertion of the seal through the locking member and the registering opening in the adjacent projection on the hasp.

As many modifications of my intention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art I do not limit or confine my invention to the specific structures herein shown and described.

I claim 1. In a freight ca r having a sliding door, a door operating and locking mechanism comprising. a toothed hasp pivotally mounted on one of said members to swing freely from one of its ends. a cooperative pinion mounted upon the other member for engagement with the hasp to open and close the door, means for rotating the pinion, a fixed projection spaced from the pinion and adapted to guide the hasp while in engage ment with the pinion. said hasp having an opening adapting it to be engaged with said projection to hold the door against movement.

2. In a freight car having a sliding door, a door operating and locking mechanism comprising a rack-like hasp pivotally mounted on one of said members to swing freely from one of its ends, a cooperative pinion mounted upon the other member for engagement with the hasp to open and close the door. means for rotating the pinion, means for guiding the hasp while in engagement with the pinion. said hasp'formed for interlocking engagementwith a staple fixed on the car. when out of engagement with the pinion. to hold the door against movement.

3. In a freight car having a sliding door, a door operating and locking mechanism comprising a hasp pivoted to the door adjacent to the forward edge to swing freely from one end, a toothed rack formed on one edge of the hasp, a toothed operating lever mounted on the adjacent door post for engaging said hasp to open and close the door, a fixed projection adjacent to the toothed end of the lever adapted to guide the hasp when in engagement with the toothed lever, and said hasp provided with an opening adapted to receive the said fixed projection when the haspis disengaged from the toothed'lever to hold the door against move' ment. 1

4. In a freight car having a sliding door, a toothed lever pivotally mounted on the forward door post, a. rack-like hasp pivotally mounted at one of its ends on the door adjacent to its forward edge and adapted to hang freely, from said pivoted end when the door is open and the hasp is free of the toothed lever and to be engaged with the toothed lever for opening and closing the door, a fixed projection extending outwardly from the said door post adjacent to the toothed end of the lever and spaced therefrom to receive the hasp between the fixed projection and lever and to guide the hasp in its back and forth movement, said hasp being free to enter sidewise into engagement with the lever.

5. In a freight car having a sliding door, a toothed lever pivotally mounted on the forward door post, a toothed has pivotally mounted at one of its ends on t 1e door adjacent to its forward edge and adapted to engage the toothed lever for opening and closing the door, a fixed projection extending outwardly from the said door post adjacent to the toothed end of the lever and spaced therefrom to receive the hasp be tween the projection and lever and to guide the hasp in its back and forth movement, said hasp being free to enter sidewise into engagement with the lever and provided with an opening to receive the fixed projection for holding the door against movement.

6. A mechanism for moving a sliding car door relatively to a car body and comprising a relatively short racl -like hasp adapted to be pivotally mounted on one of said members to hang freely from one of its ends, means for so mounting the hasp, an operating pinion mounted upon the other member for en gagement with the hasp for opening and closing the door, a fixed projection on said other member for guiding the hasp when engaged with the pinion, said hasp being adapted to swing sidewise into engagement with the pinion and means for securing the hasp to the opposite member to prevent movement of the door.

7. A freight car and its sliding door in combination with a mechanism for opening and closing the door and locking same comprising a rack-like hasp pivotally mounted at one of its ends upon the door adjacent to the forward edge, an operating pinion mounted upon the forward door post for engagement with the hasp to open and close the door, a fixed projection on the door post adjacent to the pinion for guiding the hasp in its back and forth movement, said hasp being adapted to be swung sidewise beneath the said projection into engagement with the pinion, and provided with an opening for engagement with said projection to hold the door against movement, said hasp being out of engagement with the pinion when in lorlu ing position, and a locking member adapted to project through said projection for holding the hasp in operative relation to the pinion.

8. A freight car and its sliding door n combination with a mechanism for opening and closing the door and locking same comprising a rack-like hasp pivotally mounted at one of its ends upon the door adjacent to its forward edge, an operating pinion mounted upon the forward door post for engagement with the rack to open and close the door, a fixed projection on the door mst adjacent to the pinion for guiding the ra k in its back and forth movement, said rari, being adapted to be swung sidewise hrnr-ath the said projection into engagement with tho pinion, and provided with an opw r engagement with said prop *li n to limit the door against movement, so; in ii,f out of engagement with the pinion when in locio ing position, and a sliding holt arranged substantially at right angles to th hasp when in operative relation to the pinion and adapted to extend through said projection for holding the hasp in engagement with the pinion.

S. A freight car and its sliding door in combination with a mechanism for opening and closing the door and locking same com prising a rack-like hasp pivotally mounted at one of its ends upon the door adjacent to its forward edge, an operatingpinion mount ed upon the forward door post for engag ment with the hasp to open and close the door, a fixed projection on the door post rdjacent to the pinion for guiding the hm-p in its back and forth movement, wi l hn p being adapted to he su [ing sidewise iwneath the said projw-tion into cu man? 'i':, the pinion, and provided Uh an o a-nng for engagement with saId projection to hold the door against moveuu-nt, a locking nu 1 ber adapted to ext nd through said promtion for holding the hasp in rngagonn n with the pinion and in holding ni on said projection. said ki king in ining adapted to proje t in from of i when the hasp is in lzi hi l rigid projection on sa: F l i-;- is operate with said lock ceiving a car seal to paw rof the locking member ire 10. A freight car and i v combination with a mechanism and closing the door and lorlzin prising a rack-like hasp pivotail at one of its ends upon the door to its forward edge, an oj'ierating pi on mounted upon the forward door post for engagement with the hasp to open and closs tire door, a fixed projection on the door post adjacent to the pinion for guiding the hasp 11 its back and forth movement, said hasp wing adapt d to he swung sidewise into operative enga ement with the pin on and betwe n the pinion and tin said proportion, and proridcd uith an open for :v nt \iith said j'uojm'lion to hold the door a joins: l': .*,:'cut. a locking member adaptto proje through said proje tion for holding the hasp in engagement with the pinion and for holding the hasp on said projectimr said hasp having two scaling projections, one arranged adjacent to each end and each adapted to eoiipei'ate with said h king iaemliet' for sea ing the door in i-iosed po--it oii and in partly open position respe -il i\'el ll. in a freight Hl ha ting" a sliding door, a pinion rotatably mounted on the car adjaent to the door opening, means for rotatin; the pinion, a toothed has for engagement \.ith the pinion pivotally mounted at one end on the (ltml and adapted to hang F eely 'roni t pimrr-d end when free from the g iiiom a xw projection on the ear adjaeent to the pinion for guiding the hasp \\l|t"l en lig i Y! the pinidIL the hasp wing fl't'ti) :n mi' e ideuise between the proj eti in ind ini n into and out of engag m nt w th die latter. said hasp having an opening adapted to lt'tQlH said nioieetion for inciting; liie dooi again t mownwnt. and the hasp being free of the pinion when lot-king piti n.

1;, in 1: Freight ear having a sliding door, an opera ive pinion mounted on the forward door p d: tooth-l hasp carried by the door adi iwi for ngagement with the pinion nhen he done is neat-l elosed, a loelting ieni a 2' carried by the said door post, said has and oi-hing: niemhei' heing adapt d for inn-i wlfltf." engagement to prevent the hack a'e in movement of the door, and means ,1

.o in the L-asp in looking position.

ii-inn; for moving a ar do r 1 't' o wulhbtl t and adapted to lo k r in to the at bod and ompf isi on .111 i"j?cl';l[l" pinion mounted on ()IH n ievei fixed on said p nion ine hitter is rotat d a t th d my Hogan-innit with said pinion ('ftl? i' en y said iihey member and mount d ther on to h" i i'eel from one it an adapt? noel-ed sn iewise into ingaire izh v the lev r "an inIiBO IS eatve 1i PM [Eli nk.

ment with the piuii ihe plated in the Ii'i' am. position to! ()pemii. in said heap to th o -i e me ni m to o I the door agaimi, 11m Jeri. h- F the'd-g. free of the pinion whe in 'A l HZL' g'i liion It ln :1 fl'tliflt :11 4m" tng; min anism. an UPti'tlUtH p nl' a a ia t'ed i ::-e l'otatahl mounted m t-ian il'tl, door post ot' a ar. mean-. to "he pinion, :i tooth d :w. k t 'l' t in i', vi ti the ii in adapted t; h pi l'l'i *it n dooz to zng" 12-" -i in i guidmeans adaza'ed t imp aeiai-rnt to i pinion for Qli1lil tin ix. lil" mi fil gagenmnt thezeiwti ind said rank neing' freely movable no" 1 n i pivoted int; into and out n tie: M ng, p i-iti-i'i hetwein the pinion and aid Hiifldi-Ht In a t'i'eig it cmd an opei'eting mechanism. an opent ngg' nenin adapted to b u'aatabli mounted l v; the f w it'd doo P of :1 ear. means for lflttltii" iii: pinion. 1 toothed rack for "IQHSIPHNZI? with he pinion adapted to he p otal ineuot d on the our." dooi' [u swing i 'eel i iilll one and, guide means adapted to he fixed adjacent to the pinion or guiding the ra l' wail in engagw lnent theien i said work l ving Neely movahle e uewise on its oivoted end nto end out (-5 opii'ating position bet -een the pinion and said proj'etion, and Fit l removahle mean. for holding the i-aol; against si-towise movement when in enga ment with the pinion.

In testin'einv llt'l ot l in. v? her unto set in hand this l h i v of ihtliliifll' 11.141 in the pi-esenee of one snows-Hang Wit 

